Birmingham boss Eck: I've checked Ciani

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has not given up hope of bringing in Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill even though a fee has been agreed with Bolton for the player.

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But he has dismissed reports linking him with former Rangers winger Peter Lovenkrands - now with Schalke 04 - and does not expect to sign FC Lorient defender Michael Ciani before the window closes.

McLeish said: "We are still working on a couple of things. We will have to wait and see. Cahill is a player we admire and would like to take him here as well.

We will just have to wait and see what happens over the next 48 hours.

"We have ruled ourselves in on anything that is happening. I am not sure where it is at the moment. We are in touch with the agent and Martin O'Neill.

"Peter Lovenkrands? That is pie in the sky. Michael Ciani? I've looked at him, we will take another look but I don't see me doing anything before the transfer window closes on that one."